How do you respond to enquiries, think i'm doing it wrong

**Tatjana** · 02-06-2009, 12:47 PM

This probably sounds like a really silly question.

I've had 4 enquiries so far and have responded by saying yes I have a vacancy, when would they like to come and see my setting and sent a couples of info sheets like 'Activities available, sample menu' and tried to avoid the 'how much' question with 'we can discuss fees at meeting'.

BUT, they have all insisted in knowing how much before comitting to a meeting and then i've never heard from them again.

Surely it can't just be the fees putting them off as they are similar to what everyone is charging round here.

How do you avoid giving out fees information?

OR is this just common practice, to enquire and then not bother????!!!

xx

**PixiePetal** · 02-06-2009, 01:02 PM

After a quick chat on the phone and if I have vacancy needed, we arrange a visit to talk more. Money never been asked about at this stage.

When they meet me, it's never the first thing either. Sometimes I have to ask at the end of the meet if they would like to know how much it is so they can go and work it out at home!

**Tatjana** · 02-06-2009, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by PixiePetal

After a quick chat on the phone and if I have vacancy needed, we arrange a visit to talk more. Money never been asked about at this stage.

When they meet me, it's never the first thing either. Sometimes I have to ask at the end of the meet if they would like to know how much it is so they can go and work it out at home!

Wow, you're so lucky, after enquiring about the vacancy it's the next question they ask me.

xx

**Zoomie** · 02-06-2009, 01:13 PM

Could you not word your reply to the money question on the lines that it all depends on their individual circumstances and it would be best if they came around for a short visit .....

Hopefully your next call will result in a visit.

**The Juggler** · 02-06-2009, 01:21 PM

I always get asked to. Hard to refuse the information if they are asking specifically. Sounds to me like this is people who are phoning round for cheapest then deciding only to visit them. Probably would be nothing but trouble with payments if that's the case so you're probably best off without them!

**Tatjana** · 02-06-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by The Juggler

I always get asked to. Hard to refuse the information if they are asking specifically. Sounds to me like this is people who are phoning round for cheapest then deciding only to visit them. Probably would be nothing but trouble with payments if that's the case so you're probably best off without them!

I hadn't thought of it like that, you've made me feel alot better, thank you!

xx

**Tatjana** · 02-06-2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Zoomie

Could you not word your reply to the money question on the lines that it all depends on their individual circumstances and it would be best if they came around for a short visit .....

Hopefully your next call will result in a visit.

I have tried to skirt around it by saying this, then they say 'It would be 3 days a week, 9-5.30pm' then I end up giving them the fees!

Thank you all for your replies.

xx

**carla** · 02-06-2009, 02:05 PM

Have u though it could be other childminders in your area, checking out the competition?

**singlewiththree** · 02-06-2009, 03:00 PM

I am always up front with my fees and have them on CIS and also my website. I answer questions as fully as I can by email/phone but I'm terrible at discussing fees face to face.

I just say thanks for getting in touch and answer their questions and say that if they would like to arrange to see me then to get back in touch. They normally do.

TheBTeam · 02-06-2009, 03:08 PM

I always try and avoid giving out full fee information, i say that it is dependant on the individual needs of the family and that i would rather the relationship with the parent and child is right than a few pence an hour.

This is usually enough to stop genuine ones, but the most hardened who are only concerned about the pennies are more likely to be the ones that you will have issues with anyway (as said above) you are probably better off without them!

**Tatjana** · 02-06-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by carla

Have u though it could be other childminders in your area, checking out the competition?

Yes, it has crossed my mind.

I had no idea it would all be so difficult just to get a mindee

xx

**grindal** · 02-06-2009, 08:19 PM

Hi again - how are you? I wonder if another thing that puts people off is when you have spaces available immediately. A lot of the info that is sent out to people by Informed Families tells them that good childminders have waiting lists. I was always very careful to explain to people that I was a newly established childminder - and that it was to their advantage to use me as it meant I could fit around their start date, and not them around a vacancy - IYSWIM

I also followed up people who phoned and then did not get back in touch, and people who visited and did not contact me - and then asked why they had decided not to use me - maybe I am a bit pushy

Hope your luck changes soon

**Tatjana** · 03-06-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by grindal

Hi again - how are you? I wonder if another thing that puts people off is when you have spaces available immediately. A lot of the info that is sent out to people by Informed Families tells them that good childminders have waiting lists. I was always very careful to explain to people that I was a newly established childminder - and that it was to their advantage to use me as it meant I could fit around their start date, and not them around a vacancy - IYSWIM

I also followed up people who phoned and then did not get back in touch, and people who visited and did not contact me - and then asked why they had decided not to use me - maybe I am a bit pushy

Hope your luck changes soon

Hiya, I'm ok thanks, hope you are too....despite your screamer!

CIS, what a thing to say.

The one person I told I was newly registered seemed to be put off by that

I think she thought I had no experience with children, so I told her I was a mum of 2.

I had thought of emailing (haven't got the guts to phone

) about feedback and why they were no longer interested etc.

Did the ones you asked tell you why?

xx

**grindal** · 03-06-2009, 03:20 PM

2 of them were location- both found minders that were closer to where they lived. I think three of them told me their children were going to be looked after by family members. One of them did not give me a reason, but when she came to look around she was horrified that DS2 was using a pen to draw with and she asked if I always let children play with pens unsupervised

- as she did not want her daughters clothes to get dirty

I only phoned her cos she did not have the courtesy to get back to me - but in the end was not brave enough to actually ask why. I think a lot of people phone to make enquiries and then find out that childminders are not the "cheap" option they thought and end up using family.
Try and phone for some feedback - it will prob reassure you that you are not actually doing anything wrong.

**little chickee** · 03-06-2009, 03:20 PM

i quite often find that parents ask how much i charge during the initial phonecall all too often it seems to be the most important thing to them. if they dont ask i dont volunteer the information because if you can get them round for a visit and they see all i have to offer the money issue isnt always such a problem - im lucky that nearly all the minders in my area charge the same which i am always quick to point out.

but if i am directly asked how much the hourly rate is then i feel i have to answer cos if you are too vague they might think you are trying to hide something - i agree that if money is the over-riding concern then theres not much you can do.

**emmadines** · 03-06-2009, 03:30 PM

i normally start asking the parents questions after the vacancy questions.

1, i ask the number of children and they're age.
2, what hours are they after, as that effect avalibility of vacancy.
3, ask where they would be planning to place their child when at the relevant age as that would effect if im able to do that run (ive been asked to do a pre school run for the opposite side of town before.
4, what are the children are ok with dogs as we are a small zoo lol, id rarther they said no thankyou there and then, then me wasting my time getting ready for the interview..............they then normally ask how much and i tell them...

weather they take the placement is upto them.... i dont know if im doing right or wrong, all you can do is try your best

x

**Spangles** · 03-06-2009, 03:47 PM

I was always upfront about fees when I had phone enquiries, it's on the CIS site anyway.

I wouldn't think that this was the reason that all 4 didn't contact you again. My DO said that if your prices are slightly higher it has the effect of making parents think that you must offer a higher standard of care than c/ms charging less if you see what I mean. Having said that, I didn't charge more! Ha ha!

There are so many reasons why they might not have followed through with a visit, may have found relative, decided they couldn't afford it at all so stay at home, maybe just a fact finding phone call for future decisions, maybe someone thinking of starting up themselves and wanting to know what they could earn? There are loads of reasons, I think you've just been unlucky. Don't worry.

Hope you get some new mindees soon.

x

**The Juggler** · 03-06-2009, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Tatjana

I hadn't thought of it like that, you've made me feel alot better, thank you!

xx

a pleasure!

**Mummits** · 04-06-2009, 09:14 AM

All the childminders around here charge similar fees, but as someone said to me, some parents are willing to haggle over the cost of a cup of coffee, and do you want them to deal with day in day out?

**westbrom44** · 04-06-2009, 11:22 AM

Most of the people who ring already know my fees as they have got my details from the Children's Information Centre.

I rarely discuss fees over the phone, and if I do have to discuss fees in a big way then I wouldnt want them to use me as I am sure they would be bad payers.

I charge the same as the other childminders in my area anyway.